Gov. Tom Corbett has issued an executive order creating his first Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation, which his office described as needed “to help ensure the concerns of hunters, anglers and others are heard at the highest levels of state government.”

The statement announcing the council, which will include several Central Pennsylvania residents, quoted Corbett as saying, “Pennsylvania’s rich outdoor heritage, including activities such as hunting, fishing, trapping, birding, wildlife viewing, boating and hiking, are enjoyed by more than 5.9 million Pennsylvania residents and visitors each year.

“These outdoor recreational activities annually generate more than $5.4 billion for Pennsylvania’s economy, which makes this council’s input very critical.”

Corbett’s council will consolidate a few councils that were separate under previous governors since Gov. Tom Ridge first created sportsmen’s councils, notably collapsing the youth council into four positions on the new council.

Corbett’s office pointed out that the council does not include any elected statewide officials, legislators or employees of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Fish and Boat Commission or the Game Commission.

It does, however, include some former agency employees, as well as a former game commissioner.

Members will serve one-year terms and will not be compensated for their participation.

They are charged to:

- Review and make written recommendations to the governor regarding any issue appropriate for governmental action that might affect the recreational use and conservation of the state’s wildlife and other natural resources.

- Review and make written recommendations regarding policies adopted or regulations issued by the Fish and Boat Commission, the Game Commission, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources or the Department of Environmental Protection, that might affect the recreational uses of the state’s natural resources.

Corbett also appointed Justin N. Leventry, of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, as his liaison to the council. Leventry is a legislative specialist with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.